Mahlet Kifle Habtemariam

Mahlet Kifle Habtemariam (MD, MPH) is a Principal Program Officer - Chief of Staff at the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Over a 12 years career as a public health professional, her experience ranges from leading disease prevention and control programs to supporting executive leadership with strategic and program management. During her tenure at Africa CDC, Dr. Mahlet has led the Director’s priority initiatives including the establishment of the Africa Public Health Foundation, management of the Africa CDC Governing Board and Advisory Technical Council, engagement of key partners and optimizing the effectiveness of Africa CDC management.

Dr. Mahlet is particularly passionate about health policies and systems research. She co-chaired the Ethiopian NCDI poverty commission in the development of a national investment case for pro-poor policies. She is currently a member of the Lancet Commission on Synergies between Universal Health Coverage, Health Security and Health Promotion and a member of the task force on public health measures for the Lancet COVID-19 Commission.

Outside of regular duties, she serves as an active member of the Ethiopian Public Health Association Advisory Council, the International Society on Priorities in Health (ISPH), the International Institute for Primary Health Care think tank and local and international governing boards. 

Dr. Mahlet earned her Doctor of Medicine from Addis Ababa University, and her Master of Public Health from University College, Dublin. She is a Takemi Fellow of the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health.